Jan & Mary Explore The Dales

Saturday 5^th April – Friday 11^th April 2025

Number of Travellers: 2

Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

Overview

v2 – 4th Mar 2025

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Saturday 5^th April | Welcome To The Dales | Overnight: Ripon

Day 2 | Sunday 6^th April | Relaxed Day Exploring The Local Area | Overnight: Ripon

Day 3 | Monday 7^th April | Malham Cove | Overnight: Ripon

Day 4 | Tuesday 8^th April | Hiking Options | Overnight: Ripon

Day 5 | Wednesday 9^th April | North York Moors Option | Overnight: Ripon

Day 6 | Thursday 10^th April | Local Hikes & Explorations | Overnight: Ripon

Day 7 | Friday 11^th April | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Saturday 5^th April - Welcome To The Dales

A happy reunion today as Ailsa picks you up from York or Harrogate and you head towards the gently rolling Dales. Depending on the timings you may want to stop for a scenic leg stretch. The Staveley Nature Reserve is a lovely tranquil space to soak in the slower pace of country life. There is a chance to spot otters and deer as well as a large variety of birds as you explore. Then continue onwards to settle into your luxurious accommodation.

Overnight: Ripon | Grantley Hall
Room Type: Grand Suite
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Sunday 6^th April - Relaxed Day Exploring The Local Area

Today is a perfect day to get to know the local area directly around your accommodation. Discuss with Ailsa what the best options are to suit your energy levels (and the weather!). The choice is yours.

Perhaps take the gentle stroll along the river to visit Fountains Abbey. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers elegant ornamental water gardens as well as the soaring vaulted ceilings and columns of the cathedral, sadly ruined now but still very impressive.

If you wish, this could be a good afternoon to have a wee ‘mooch’ around Ripon too. A charming historical small city with lovely architecture, including its own cathedral, there is also the Studley Royal park which is home to hundreds of wild deer.

Overnight: Ripon | Grantley Hall
Room Type: Grand Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Monday 7^th April - Malham Cove

Revisit an old favourite today as you drive over the Dales to the awe-inspiring limestone amphitheatre that is Malham Cove. There are various hiking options in the area, so you can choose what will suit your day best. Keep your eyes peeled for rock climbers pitting themselves against the steep faces as you go. Imagine the massive waterfall which would once have flowed over the edge, tonnes of water plunging the 250 or so feet to the ground.

Overnight: Ripon | Grantley Hall
Room Type: Grand Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Tuesday 8^th April - Hiking Options

Today is completely flexible depending on how far away from the hotel you fancy heading (and how far you want to walk of course!). Perhaps stay close to home and discover the charms of Pateley Bridge or the Brimham Rocks. Or you could head a bit further away and take an hour’s drive north to Aysgarth and Newbiggin. Here you will discover soothing waterfalls and beautifully rolling woodland and dale paths.

Overnight: Ripon | Grantley Hall
Room Type: Grand Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Wednesday 9^th April - North York Moors Option

Today it is perhaps time to head out the Dales to the East. You can even reach the coast in under 2 hours if you want something quite different. Take in a clifftop wander from the unique fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay, full of history and tall tales, a popular end point for Coast to Coast walks. Or take a relaxing stroll along the sweep of Whitby Sands and visit the Abbey which inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Or maybe stay inland and compare the more open landscape of the North York Moors to the Dales where you are based. There is even a tiny steam railway if you fancied a different form of transport. Relaxed trails will take you through the softened countryside, discovering the history and geology along the way.

Overnight: Ripon | Grantley Hall
Room Type: Grand Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Thursday 10^th April - Local Hikes & Explorations

Stay closer to your hotel today, making the most of the quiet countryside surrounding you with a gentle hike for your final day. Or even spend some time appreciating your hotel’s facilities to ensure that you finish your holiday fully refreshed and recharged. The choice is yours.

Overnight: Ripon | Grantley Hall
Room Type: Grand Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Friday 11^th April - Depart

This morning Ailsa will take you to Manchester Airport to catch your onwards flight. Waving farewell for now, but taking with you many new special memories to keep with your old ones.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More

6 nights accommodation, as stated in the itinerary above
Most meals, as stated in the itinerary above
The services of a qualified and experienced guide from Day 1 to Day 7 inclusive
- This will be Ailsa unless circumstances outwith our control make this impossible
All transfers in a private vehicle driven by our guide on guided days
All guided hikes mentioned in the itinerary
Entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically:
- Entry to Fountains Abbey
- Donation Entry to Ripon Cathedral (or another attraction as per interest)
- Ticket on Steam Train OR entry to another attraction as per interest
Pillow Gift in room for 1st night
£100 Per Person WOW Moment Budget
T-Shirt Drop Moment – FOC
£20 Per Person Per Guided Day Hosting & Enhancement Budget
Personalised trip design and delivery
24/7 In-Country Support from the Wilderness Team

Exclusions Read More

Flights
Travel insurance
Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
Gratuities for the main driver guide

Notes Read More

All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking.
A 20% deposit is required before any accommodation and services will be confirmed.
This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision.
Activities are only private if so specified

Optional Upgrades Read More

Room Upgrades are available in some locations, subject to availability. Pricing on request.

Pricing Read More

The NET price for this itinerary, based on 2 clients on a twin-share basis, and including a £12 per person conservation contribution is:

£9,685 GBP per person

Conservation Contribution
This voluntary donation of £12 per person goes towards conservation projects in the locations we operate. If you would like to opt out just let your trip designer know. Click here for more information.

Terms & Conditions Read More: Please see our booking terms here.

Accommodation

Grantley Hall

Ripon | Yorkshire |
HG4 3ET | England
Phone: +44 (0) 1765 620 070
Web: grantleyhall.co.uk

Meet Your Guide

Ailsa Armstrong

Contact Number: +44 (0) 7729 003 905

Having been brought up on one of Scotland’s beautiful west coast islands, I have always treasured the opportunity to explore Scotland’s wild places and this continues to bring me much pleasure today.

I particularly enjoy walking in the mountains and completed all of Scotland’s Munros some years ago. I also get a great deal of pleasure from the long distance, lower level, walks Scotland has to offer and continually seek out new adventures.

Travel has not just been limited to Scotland as I have been fortunate to have walked, climbed and ski toured in many parts of the world, although there is always something special about coming home to the Cairngorms.

Favourite Place to Play

I love heading off to explore and experience the wild places of the Highlands mountains, but also the beautiful low level walking routes and coastal paths. My perfect day is always complete when I come across a coffee shop and/or gallery with local Scottish artisan products in unusual places.

Not a lot of people know this

I am a keen mosaic artist and was delighted to have had a piece of work displayed in the National Gallery of Scotland.

Jan & Mary Explore The Dales – V2

Saturday 5^th April – Friday 11^th April 2025